Over the years, my coupon organization has taken many forms – each with it’s own advantages and disadvantages.
Coupon Holder
I started out with a simple Coupon Holder (I think I bought mine at the Dollar Tree) that I used for about 2 years. It served its purpose well, but I outgrew it as I began stockpiling shopping.
Advantages:
- Light-weight, easy to carry
- Affordable and easy to find – usually around $1-$3
- Small enough to fit in most purses
Disadvantages:
- Space is limited
- Not many sections to organize coupons (normally about 10 categories)
- Not secure (if dropped in the store, you could have a messy coupon situation)
Coupon Binder
One of the most popular methods of organizing coupons is the Binder Method. You will need a 3-ring binder (one that zips closed is preferred), page dividers and baseball card holders (or picture holders). Those that use this method often only clip select coupons from the Sunday Coupon inserts and save the rest of the inserts at home.
Advantages:
- Very organized – finding coupons in the store is a breeze
- Dividers allow more categories
- A zipped binder is secure (no coupons fall out when dropped)
- Many binders also offer pockets for your calculator, scissors, etc.
Disadvantages:
- Probably the most expensive method of organizing coupons
- Time consuming – placing coupons into each slot takes up a lot of time
- If you choose not to clip every coupon, you could potentially miss out on some extra savings
- Can be bulky (it can take up the entire child’s seat of a shopping cart)
Coupon Box
The Coupon Box is now my preferred method. My Coupon Box has a lid with a handle. I have envelopes with labels for my categories (I used invitation sized envelopes and cut off the flap). I clip every coupon in the Sunday inserts and file them into my box. This process takes about 15-20 minutes each Sunday (depending on the number of inserts).
Advantages:
- Dividers allow more categories
- Affordable (my box was $5 at Fred Meyer)
- Clipping every coupon allows me to score freebies that I might have had to pass by before
- Secure – the lid keeps all of my coupons in place when the box is dropped
Disadvantages:
- Finding coupons is a little more difficult (you’ll need to look through the stack that is in the category you are looking for)
- Can be bulky (although easy to carry)
- Clipping every coupon can take more time
